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Internships for students with disabilities offer hands-on service-learning work supporting others with disabilities.
Joni & Friends
About one in five undergraduate students has a disability, but these students are less likely to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and less likely to feel supported by their institution than their peers without disabilities.
Providing inclusive opportunities for engagement can help all students feel a sense of belonging and purpose. But opportunities for students with disabilities to engage in experiential learning can be limited because of a lack of access or support.
A California-based nonprofit helps coordinate opportunities for college students and recent graduates to participate in service projects that aid other individuals with disabilities, in the U.S. and abroad. The projects build students’ sense of self-efficacy and confidence as well as teach them valuable skills.
The background: Joni & Friends, a Christian nonprofit group focused on supporting individuals with disabilities and their families, has for several years offered internships for college students interested in working with disabled individuals. Most of these opportunities have been geared toward learners focused on medical support, such as doctoral or physical therapy students.
In 2021, a faculty member from Shepherds College—a private postsecondary institution in Wisconsin for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)—participated in an international trip with Joni & Friends to gauge the feasibility of offering a service trip for students.
Shepherds College focuses on building students’ independence and provides occupational certificate programs in horticulture, technology and culinary services. A central goal of Shepherds’ educational model is to build students’ independence and provide internships aligned with this goal.
The first trip took place in 2022, with two student participants, and has since grown to a dozen or so Shepherds College students and alumni.
How it works: With Shepherds College, Joni & Friends has coordinated annual trips to three cities in Brazil, partnering with local organizations there. Students supported two projects, Wheels for the World, which provides mobility devices internationally to individuals with physical disabilities, and International Family Retreat, which gives families of individuals with disabilities vacations and support.
The program is open to students and recent alumni from Shepherds College. Each participant is paired with a buddy who assists with travel and accommodations for their disability. To be considered for the internship, students have to complete an interview, during which they outline any accommodations they need.
On the ground, students hold a variety of roles, including working with families that include a person with a disability, reorganizing food pantries and serving food.
Shepherds College interns help organize food, prepare meals and work with children while on their trips.
Joni & Friends
The goal is to provide opportunities for students to succeed and stretch in a supportive and accommodating environment, said Kimi Archer, director of global missions and internships, who leads university partnership for the organization. Students with IDD often struggle with vague or implied expectations, so providing explicit and detailed information about how to pack, follow daily schedules or uphold behavioral norms can be helpful.
Additionally, trip leaders sometimes make tough decisions about which trips may not be suitable for students with different abilities or accommodation needs, prioritizing safety, Archer said.
The impact: Throughout the experiences, leaders facilitate opportunities for reflection and discussion among participants, helping them process their experiences and connect them to future goals.
Often, when working with individuals with IDD, leaders can set standards too low, Archer said. “They want to be challenged and they want to succeed, so why do we do that?”
Another benefit of the experiences has been a reframing of the students’ own value and contributions to their communities, Archer said. Students with disabilities are uniquely suited to partner with young people who also have disabilities and serve as role models, which can in turn build their own confidence and sense of belonging.
One past participant shared that he liked “being the older person who can help a younger person,” Archer said. “Finding that people need you, when your whole life you’ve needed others to help you, affirms the value of the individual.”
Scaling up: Since Joni & Friends first partnered with Shepherds College, more institutions have indicated interest in offering these kinds of trips for students. Judson University in Illinois' RISE Program (Road to Independent Living, Spiritual Formation and Employment) and Union University in Tennessee’s EDGE Program are exploring opportunities for students with IDD to serve alongside traditional learners who hope to work with individuals with disability in their careers.
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This article has been updated to correct the location of Judson University.
